Catholic Schools Week is an annual observance across the nation, sponsored by the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Nationally the week will be observed Jan. 31 to Feb. 6, although some schools within the Diocese of New Ulm will be celebrating a week early, like Holy Trinity, due to scheduling conflicts.

The 2010 theme, “Dividends for Life” focuses attention on the lifetime of benefits the multidimensional Catholic education offers its students, teaching faith, knowledge, discipline, and morals.

“The dividends that our students receive from their Catholic education will help guide them in making decisions the rest of their lives,” Holy Trinity Principal Bill Tschida said. “Holy Trinity Schools provides the morals, discipline, knowledge, and faith foundation for our students to become better people and better citizens.”

As part of the national observance of Catholic Schools Week, National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools will be observed Wednesday, Feb. 3. National Appreciation Day was established to encourage supporters nationwide to showcase to elected officials the great accomplishments and contributions of Catholic schools.

In Washington, a delegation of Catholic school students, teachers and parents will visit Capitol Hill to meet with congressional leaders to promote Catholic shools.

Schools in other parts of the country are encouraged to carry their message of good news to local and state officials.

Holy Trinity School has planned activities for the week in both its elementary and high school, with something for the students to look forward to the entire week.

This is Holy Trinity Schools’ 126th year providing Catholic education to area children, and the school has a lot to be proud of.

Graduates continue to acknowledge how the academic standards set for them at Holy Trinity have made them successful college students.

But Holy Trinity is educating its student beyond reading, writing and math, according to Holy Trinity Marketing Director Julie Fasching.

“Holy Trinity is building people who make really good decisions,” she said. “Not because they have read it out of a book, but because they have experienced it. They have served the poor and needy; they have volunteered their service hours; and they have seen the consequences of people making poor choices.”

“Their choices will be made with the guiding influence of the gospels and the commandments and doctrine learned in religion classes,” Fasching said.